Vande 'Duplicity': Cong Dances To Allies' Tunes? | Vande Mataram Row | The Hard Facts | News18

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:01]Well, we'll shift our focus back to what's transpiring home here in India.

[00:00:05]And controversy marked the first session of the newly elected Kerala Legislative Assembly today. The Congress government chose not to play the full version of Matram ahead of Governor's formal address, his policy address to the house. The official band played only two stanzas of Matram. They disregarded the directive from the Lok Bhavad. The government decided to skip the full version because uh it had severe objection to it after it was played during the cabinet's wedding in ceremony and that sparked controversy. Both its political rivals, its own allies, especially the IUML and it did not go down well there. But this time around when they decided to skip it, it did not go down too well with the Lokh Bhavan.

[00:00:42]Governor Rajendra Arlear threw the rule book at the Satishian government flagged a protocol violation. He cited a home ministry order from earlier this year which mandated the full six stanza official version at all official events and requiring to be sung before the national anthem. It also mandated that instead of singing only those select verses which is what was done up until now the full official version comprising of all six stanzas must be sung at official events and ceremonies. That is something that's not acceptable to Muslim groups because they believe that this full version, the full rendition of Andy Matram is an explicit equation of the motherland with Hindu deities and that contradicts their core Islamic beliefs. But this controversy highlights something bigger for the Congress party.

[00:01:27]It's not a routine government versus governor clash. Many would say this is a classic case of regional political compulsions that dictate the stance of a party, in this case the Congress.

[00:01:36]Contrast what happened in Keralum today to what happened in Tamil Nadu a few days ago. When Joseph Vijay's TVK formed the government, the Congress accepted the protocol where Wandday Matram took precedence at Raj Bhavan events even during the oath taking despite there being questions that were asked by the AIA DMK and the DMK as to why the Tamil state anthem did not play before Wand Matram. The Congress chose not to aggressively escalate this entire issue.

[00:02:02]The TVK said they will adhere to centers directive during events that involve the governor. The Congress followed suit.

[00:02:07]But now see what's happening in Kerala.

[00:02:09]The newly formed UDF government that's led by Vir Satishan faced intense heat from its ally the IUML after a full rendition of that song was initially played. So today the Congress chose to defy the Rajan directives and limit the song strictly to the first two stanzas.

[00:02:24]Now the IUML is a key part of the UDF alliance. 25 of its MLAs are a part of the UDF. 25 MLAs that the Congress needs to stay in power. So this predicament for the Congress is not surprising. But is the Congress genuinely defending a historical secular norm as they claim or is it simply dancing to the tunes of its allies to keep its coalition intact?

[00:02:45]Before we get into that, here's the full story.

[00:03:01]>> [music] >> Whenever governor is present, it has to be sung fully. It was not they did not sing it. It was played only.

[00:03:18]Singing mandaram is not mandatory. This is not a provision of any of the act just like a flag code nothing. This is a guideline only.

[00:03:41]This is the national protocol, constitutional protocol. But Congress government violated it. Only two stanzas were played. It's an insult to the governor.

[00:03:58]So let's open this up. Shazad Punavala, national spokesperson of the BJP is with me here in the studios. Arandang author joins us. Tessin Punavala, political analyst is with us and Vive Shuasav, leader of the left is with us as well.

[00:04:09]Tessine, let me begin by asking you why is it that the Congress decides to have objection with the full rendition in one state but go with the flow in another?

[00:04:17]>> Because the Congress is Javal Neuji's party. It is Mahatma Gandhi's party. If there is nati's party in 1896 in the kolkata session of the congress wand matram was first sung 1905 session it was decided whenever India gets independence wand matram would be the national song and the javal has made the national song. Now Gandhi G tagore etc decided 1937 when nu was the president of the congress that two stanzas need to be sung. Now here's the BJP spokesperson. BJP truly wanted the entire song to be the national song and should be sung instead of an advisory. I would say make it a law. You should make it a law. Nobody has an objection to one day matram. But what the honorable chief minister asked, can you cite what law is broken? What rule is broken? They have an advisory. The government in his wisdom decided not to follow an advisory. I think it should rest at that. The BJP has nothing else to do but politicize the issue.

[00:05:10]>> And I'll ask that of Shazad, but you still haven't answered my question. Why is it that it's okay in Tamil Nadu but not okay in Keralum?

[00:05:16]>> Wisdom of the government. The wisdom of the government prevails in different areas. So if they want a cons one nation, one law, who has to pass it?

[00:05:24]They don't. They only want to do politics.

[00:05:26]>> Please.

[00:05:27]>> So Chzar, the wisdom of the government can differ with the wisdom of the government can differ on who they're allying with. It's okay with the TV. So it's okay with the Congress in Tamil Nadu.

[00:05:35]>> In Tamil Nadu, you have Joseph as CM and in Keralam you have Muslim League Chief Minister. I'm not making mistake. I'm saying right thing. Muslim League chief minister the is not political analyst leaning towards Congress. Now he's leaning towards Muslim League and Vive Shivastav is the Muslim League promax.

[00:05:53]Now let me come to the point. First of all he has quoted Nehu and I want to take away Anandathan's thunder before he says Nehu was the one who chopped off Van Matram into two parts. wrote to subash bos that I am under pressure from jina and lo and behold today they are getting support from the same jennina's muslim league and they have chopped off the wand matram once again the history has repeated itself Mr. Nu in fact said that wand matram is not fit to be even as the national song and by the way forget the six stanzas even when it is two stanzas congress party has had problem with it for instance Mr. Arif Masud of Madhya Pradesh has said I won't say it. It was cut short in Rahul Gandhi's rally and Pinter Vijay today has said that singing full wand matram is RSS agenda. Now let's explore this.

[00:06:36]First time it was sung full was when the 1896 session of Congress took place RSS was not born. Second time uh now it has come after 150 years if it is RSS agenda. So they are accepting that wand matram is RSS agenda but their agenda is J Palestine. The same Keralam assembly has seen the tribute being given to Madni terrorists. They have said I will not have Bhat Mata's portrait. They have said we will give platform to Hamas but they do not want to allow Wand Matram.

[00:07:04]This is a mindset issue. It is catering to the vote bank. And let me tell you internal secret. What happened was that Priyanka Vadra got a call from Jamaat.

[00:07:13]Jamat is now running the roost in Keralam. They are going on the streets.

[00:07:16]They're saying Sharia. They have done it in Iduki. So Jamat has told Priyanka that if you allow the full wand matram we will withdraw the support from Vard.

[00:07:25]So under this pressure Muslim League chief minister has said that no wand matram will play in the assembly. Tin can confirm it.

[00:07:33]>> 30 seconds to rebart before I get in the other two gentlemen as well.

[00:07:35]>> This business of Muslim League is Muslim League not a secular party?

[00:07:40]>> No. Oops. If it is not may I may I please finish. If it is not the honorable home minister should write to the election commissioner and ban it.

[00:07:47]There is the Muslim League in Kerala has nothing to do with anything else just because it has the name Muslim. Muslims are an essential part of India. They vote for the Congress. Congress proudly represents the Muslim and there's nothing wrong in it. I don't know why the BJP is so upset about it. Should the Congress not represent Muslims? They're very proud. But who is the founder of Muslim League? This has nothing to do with Hindus.

[00:08:06]>> One second. Who's the >> This has nothing to do with Hindus.

[00:08:09]>> One second. One second. Who is the founder of the Indian Union Muslim?

[00:08:11]>> Let's stick to the issue of one second.

[00:08:14]Don't interrupt. Can you tell me the founder of the Indian M union Muslim League? He was called Kaid Milat like Jina was called K Aam. He was from Jina's party. He's the remnant of Jina's party.

[00:08:25]>> Okay.

[00:08:26]>> They remain in India.

[00:08:27]>> When India became independent, you have an organization that is running a political organization. They swear allegiance to the constitution of India which includes secularism. You think they don't? You must ban them like >> Matram is part of constitutional and I agree. Please make a law.

[00:08:43]You are not but the question here really was sure I sure so if you want it to be enforced then make it a lawand not merely leave it at a directive. Why not bite that bullet is what the Congress and many others in the opposition are. But the question really is that why is it that we see a different stance in Tamil Nadu and in Keralum because in Tamil Nadu the Congress is a junior partner. So the TVK says okay we don't want to rub the governor and the center in a wrong way because we need their assistance as well. So at least where the governor is attending at least where there are events with the governor's office involved we'll play the full rendition of Matrram before the state anthem but in Keralum that's a problem for the Congress because here Congress has the majority in terms of in the alliance of the UDF.

[00:09:30]>> Good evening Punam and good evening to my fellow panelists. I'm in a bind out here because I find both my brothers and they are brothers to each other. Uh correct. Uh number one, Tessine is right. Uh and I think the fact is a lot of mind games are being played because yes, as I said, Tessine is right. If the government wants everyone to abide by rightly so, play the entire wand matram or six stanzas, then it should not just be an advisory. It should be a law. And those who violate the law, well they violate it, they would be punished for it or they can go to the Supreme Court and then see what happens there. But Shazad is also right because by not making it a law, they are putting the onus and you know trying to expose the people who hate the vision of our forefathers who hate Hindu civilization who hate India and they are better out than in. So you know it's a mind game being played out here. My thing is I would bat within it should be made a law and those who still oppose it let them go to the court. This way it just leads to more political constonnation because the fact is wand matram punam is not mere words strung together by bank. It's an umbilical cord that connects us to our mother none other than goddess dura the guardian of our sovereignity.

[00:10:54]Goddess Laxshmi the guardian of our wealth and Goddess Saraswati the guardian of our wisdom and every stanza every word every little symbolism personifies for us what it means to be Indian and to see Muslims objecting to it today I'm sorry but it takes one back to the Muslim League objecting to it first in 198 when the president say Ali imam called it a quote unquote sectarian Hindu cry and then in 1937 when Muhammad Ali Jina specifically objected to it on October 15 1937 in a speech speech at the Muslim League's Lucknau session arguing against his adoption and then a few weeks later lo and behold Congress working committee under Javal la passed a resolution exceeding to Jina's demand and truncated our sacred song. We demand our song back. Punam Raja Ramchandri.

[00:11:40]It is the battlecry OF RAJPUTANA RIFLES.

[00:11:43]JADRI Vishal key is the battlecry FOR THE GWAL REGIMENT. ARE YOU SAYING that the Muslim Javan in these regiments should not utter this battle cry? Go ask our hero General Atasan who heads the Gwal rifle that this ancient civilization is a Hindu civilization should not be seen as a matter of SHAME OR REGRET BUT AS A MATTER OF PRIDE. BUT THE fact also is those who India never need to be forced to love her and those who don't no amount of force will make them love her. It is not about forcing THE MUSLIMS TO SING MATRAM. LET THEM NOT SING IT. It is about not denying anymore the rest of us the ability to understand who we are. Children tied to our mother through THIS UMBILICAL CORD. YOU ARE FREE to think you emerge from the sands of Arabia. All we are asking is to have the freedom to think we came from the soul of India. Now just 30 seconds to the Indian Union Muslim League or the current Kerala government partner. Just 30 seconds. If IML is secular as Tasin SAYS THEN THE TALIBAN are feminist. It is the progeny of the original Muslim LEAGUE OF JINA. THOSE GUYS ran off to Pakistan leaving their blood brothers behind WHO FORMED THE MUSLIM LEAGUE OUT HERE. Does Rahul Gandhi even know what secularism means and what the Muslim League wants? It wants Sharia law to be imposed. IN FACT, IT SAID QUOTE TO NOT HAVE SHARIA LAW in India would be a Himalayan mistake. quote it perpetrated the anti-indu marad massacre. It opposed the CA and TRIPLE TALA BAN. IT calls LGBT PEOPLE AS QUOTE WORST HUMANS UNQUOTE. It doesn't want genderneutral classrooms. Doesn't want board members to come from the public service commission. It changed names of Kerala village Kurati Yakuda as it was a Hindu sounding. It got 10% Muslim reservation INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS AND IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MALAPURAM TO BE CARVED OFF AS A MUSLIM STRONG DISTRICT AFTER FIGHTING FOR IT. AND YOU KNOW WHO OPPOSED THEM BACK IN 1969? YES.

[00:13:29]>> YES. The Congress.

[00:13:30]>> But but the IUML is a secular party. But if it is that secular, it should think of Muslims interests. Why should it not think of interest of the Hindus? I mean why should they stop? Why should they stop a shasa for the entire rendition of Mandatram to go on in certain events where the governor is present at least at those events if not all where the governor is present because there's a directive for it. Why not?

[00:14:00]Did I get I took I went around the table. Thank you for waiting with patience. I've come to you now.

[00:14:13]Anand just a second. Vive. Go ahead please.

[00:14:17]>> Yeah. I mean full of hatred for the Muslims, for Islam, for Quran DESERTS OF SAUDI ARABIA.

[00:14:23]>> WHERE IS where is the hatred?

[00:14:25]>> Where is the hatred? Where is the hatred?

[00:14:26]>> Where is the hatred?

[00:14:28]>> I praise General Hassan. Don't be silly.

[00:14:31]>> This gentleman don't just a second. Why do you say there's hatred Vik Shivas? There is an opinion that has been put out. You are allowed to put your opinion which is exactly why I've asked you the question. Please go ahead.

[00:14:41]>> Pinpoint the hatred. Punam, don't let him go like this because he dog whistles. Let's vive >> where is the hatred quote the hatred just a second please interfere I've asked him to give you your time to go on please go on >> thank you 1937 what happened exactly in the congress adivation and and and do you know what Mr. Vanatagore said the Nobel laureate of this this proud land a proud land. He said that the first two stanzas are good because they contribute to a sense of patriotism for this motherland. However, the rest of them are basically worshiing stanzas of Hindu dietes and we want this movement against the British to be inclusive of everyone.

[00:15:26]This country, this constitution of Ambedkar includes everyone. Why should a Muslim follow the artis of Hindus and why should a Hindu go and start offering namaz just to prove that he's secular?

[00:15:37]Why should a Muslim start putting a tikka on his forehead and why should a Muslim actually wear a Muslim skull cap to each his own? And what passing are you talking of? Half the nation doesn't want a particular thing. Half the nation is as the national SONG we going to force it DOWN YOUR THROAT.

[00:16:00]YOU better it can't be damned if you do damned if you don't sort of a situation then okay if you want it compulsory bring in a law if it goes to the parliament you say because otherwise we get caught up in this personalized rhetoric. Let me just come in 20 seconds an I I request you I'm also the official spokesperson. Let me please I might say uh with due respect first of all Rabindana Tagorji has said a lot of things including Christianity and Islam being religions that are incompatible so will you believe everything Rabinda Tagorji says or it's only a selective love you have for one thing that he said one second sir no one secondly vi [clears throat] just 20 seconds I'll finish in 20 seconds punam also says w matram I also say w matram punam do you do prayers when you are saying w matram matram is not a prayer matram is salut ation to Mahabharati. By the way, from the Islamic point of view, Janut is under the feet of the mother.

[00:16:52]So it is completely compatible with Islam. But having said that, let me come to the third point that Tess and Anand both raised and Tess is a very smart cookie. He raises a straw man. He says Badu G anandram and have been adopted as national anthem and national song by the constituent assembly. Okay. Now anything about that comes in the protocol which is under the national honor act. So today when the directive has been given that you have to say the full wand matram if you do not say it you are violating the law under the national honor and act anyway but we cannot reverse constituent assembly unless tess wants a new constituent assembly should be created for so then he should not tell us we're changing constitution so you can't have it both ways national song is national song national anthem is national anthem but now when the government has said that the full national anthem national song will be rendered then you have to do it if you don't then you're violating the prevention of honor of national symbols act another 30 seconds before I get into your show sir >> yeah thank you and I really hope vive my brother I don't know why he gets agitated he's a very irrudite person I hope he answers this very very simple question of mine as a brother to a brother do you want a Muslim jawan in rajutana rifle to not chant raja chandra j yes yes or no >> it's his choice >> exactly >> his choice >> it should be his choice >> so the so the choice So the choice is selective clearly that seems to be the issue here. It's it's his choice or it's her choice if that suits an army.

[00:18:26]>> Is that the case?

[00:18:27]>> Punam. Punam. One second. He wants an army jawan to forget the most important chant of his regiment by saying it is my choice. So he's all right if an army javans refuses TO SING THE CHANT OF HIS REGIMENT.

[00:18:44]I admire him as one of the finest Chinese. I really admire you. Yes. I don't want I don't want maybe to SAY LISTEN I'LL ANSWER. LET ME ANSWER. Can I answer that? Can I answer?

[00:19:08]Let me answer. Yes. Yes. 30 seconds, please.

[00:19:13]If I am a javan and if my military regiment has I WILL BE THE first one to sing it.

[00:19:22]Okay. Okay. Let's not let's not digress and let's keep this civil please. As far as the Congress party is concerned it's not a secret that the Congress party does need the support of the IUML in the state of Kerala. If you look at the UDF composition and you look at how many members or MLAs the IUML brings to the table, the Congress does warn them.

[00:19:44]They cannot upset them. Satishan was also picked many believers because he was IML's choice as the chief minister over others.

[00:19:52]>> Even the honorable leader of opposition in Kerala, the former chief minister of Kerala supported what the Kerala assembly did. He certainly doesn't want the IUML support. He certainly is against the IUML. So first of all that argument does not hold true there except for the BJP. Second I come from the great state of Maharashtra. We say J Bhawani J Shivaji har mad. The Marata regiment says J bh bh bh bh bh bh bh bh bh bhawani jivaji har mad. I have the Indianol tattooed on my arm. But if the BJP asks me for a certificate I will tell the RSS is the one that didn't participate. We >> and yet today it becomes agenda if you have to sing how again how does it work both ways therefore I'm coming therefore I'm coming therefore I'm coming pand javal al who as president of the congress in 1937 in his wisdom saw wand matram as a uniting call as a call that everyone comes together and he took a decision with others that it'll be two standards now if the RSS wants to reverse that you find a way legally to do it constitut 370 But but temporarily also if also if Javalu in his wisdom decided to take a decision then this government in their wisdom have decided to take a decision and notification of the MHA has come out. It also specifies it also specifies for which events this needs to be sung in its entirety where the governor is involved. These are official events >> again >> actually >> in it the the the sorry just 10 seconds more the wisdom is of the state government which in its wisdom decided on the advisory >> first of all it's not first of all please understand that neu never saw wand matram as a uniting factor in fact all his letters are against the uniting factor of wand matram Mahatma Gandhi saw it as that neu actually saw it as divisive he said it irritates the Muslims secondly please tell me that this does not stop at wand matram punam The problem is that the congress starts with matram but then somebody says then somebody says I will not follow the tanga then somebody says I will stand with a then somebody says I will stand with the convicted supreme court terrorist so this is the problem it starts from here it ends somewhere else and I want to ask you >> also the big the bigger problem here is I mean this is a standoff that we've seen between governments and opposition rule states and governments there and the governors on multiple occasions now ever since this particular uh uh notification came out earlier this year.

[00:22:25]This is not something that is seemingly going to die down. But the issue really here is as far as the Congress is concerned, are they choosing what they believe in and what they don't depending on what their political compulsions are?

[00:22:37]That's the question that we were trying to ask here. But I have to leave it at that. I thank you all gentlemen for joining us here on this edition.